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FABLES 



AND 



iWoral 3toem#* 



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BY 



W. COLDWELL, 



HALIFAX: 

PRINTED BY R. SUGDEN, OLD MARKET-PLACE, 




FOR TBE AUTHOR. 



/^WM'//4^rj->vr 



1818. 



Price 2s. 6d. fine copy, and Is. 6d. common. 



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FABLES 

AND 

MORAL POEMS. 



FABLES 



AND 



IftMBML IP(DI£BtII 



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WJiiltam €o\mtlh 



The hen, who from the chilly air, 
With pious wing protects her care, 
And ev'ry fowl that flies at large 
Instructs me iu a parent's charge, 
Thus ev'ry object of creation 
Can furnish hints for contemplation; 
And from the most minute and mean, 
A virtuous mind can morals glean. 



GAY. 



HALIFAX:* • 

PRINTED BY R. SUGDEN, OLD MARKET-PLACE, 
FOR THE AUTHOR. 

1818. 









8 7 o ' 

'Ok 



ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL. 



PREFACE, 



J. HE Elohim of creation, in his revelations 
to lapsed man, adopted metaphor, figure, and 
parable, as one efficient mean of instruction to 
beings which see through a glass darkly ; and 
not, as when this mortal shall have put on im- 
mortality, face to face. The original language 
of the Old Testament, which contains the first 
revelation of God to man, is replete with 
metaphor. Allusion beams in almost every 
sentence; and the very structure of the lan- 
guage itself, is metaphoric. When the Messiah, 
clothed in flesh, exercised his ministry among 
men, and set up the standard of the perfect law 
of love, then he spoke as never man spoke, 
and, even then, parables flowed from his lips, 
and his tongue taught, by images and figures, 
things eternal and divine. Thus invisible things 
are represented and illustrated by objects visible 
to the material organs of man ; and he learns, 
from the visible creation, the invisible things 
which will, when the mortal part ceases, burst 
upon him in one vast real ; sublime and eternal. 



f 



I 



iV PREFACE. 



In imitation of the sacred volume, man has 
in every age, and generally with success, 
couched instruction in imagery, and taught 
wisdom by similitudes. Parables and Fables 
have come down to us in every language ; and 
the learned languages in particular afford seve- 
ral beautiful volumes of this species of learn- 
ing; while our own supplies us with several 
more, equally original, and equally beautiful 
and instructive. 

As a drop in the immense ocean, are the 
Fables now laid before the public. They are 
original, if not beautiful, and in most cases, 
natural, if not instructive. They are the au- 
thors tribute to the glory of the sublime Crea- 
tor, and to the common stock of good ; the pro- 
perty of his fellow incarnates, and well meant, 
if not superlatively executed. Conscious of 
the integrity of his intentions, he leaves them 
with the public, without patronage, and with- 
out those fears which attend eminence and re- 
nown; if they are useful, well, and if not, he 
has done his best, and leaves the event with 
him who disposeth all things, and doeth all 
things well. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

THE Lady and the Rose, 7 

Maternal Instinct, 12 

The Bee, 16 

The Yoath and the Shepherd, 24 

The Owl, the Swallow, the Sportsman, the 

Viper, the Eagle, and the Pointer, . „ 35 

Conscience, 43 

The Cynic and the Phylosopher, 48 

Henry and Emma, 59 

The Oak, 63 

The Two Sexes, « 72 

TheDeadJay, 83 

Man and the Animals, 92 

The Mountain-Doves, • 107 



FABLES, 



THE LADY AND THE ROSE. 

L/LEAR rose the sun and noontide beans, 

Aloft, around shot lambent stream ; 

Nor sped one zephyr thwart the scene, 

Fierce heat prevailed and scorched the green. 

A lady delicate and fair, 

'Midst garden sweets and colours rare 

Sought to enjoy the hues, the forms 

Which sunbeams rear from winter's storms ; 

Herself most lovely flower, in bloom 

Where mortal rears its highest noon. 

From flower to flower she, ardent roved 

And mourned each form which scorching proved. 



B 



FABLES AND 



4 And dost thou droop, my beauteous rose, 

4 In weeping curve and seek repose ; 

4 Repose, nor found, alas to thee 

4 Amidst these beams, which wander free 

4 O'er thy fair hues, thy moistures bear, 

4 And steal those saps which roses cheer. 

'Ah, could I bear thee hence away, 

4 Shelter should greet thy form 'midst day; 

4 The pearly drops at e'en should shed 

4 From vessel meet and rear thy head : 

4 Lo, I would foster thee she cried, 

4 Nor should these beams thy bloom deride \ 

4 But honours meet, as sweetly due 

4 Salute thy form and hue to hue ; 

4 Cut, ah, removal death would prove, 

4 Nor can I save the rose I love. 

4 O, had I power, nor should the sway 

4 Of solar rage bear thee away.' 

4 Soft,' cried a voice, 4 fair lady cease ; 

4 From toils like these thy frame release : 



MORAL POEMS. 



2 Nor thus, from flower to flower bemoan, 

* Case to lost case, O feel thy own ; 

* Thy self most tender, midst these beams, 

4 Nor safety thine ; seek thou where streams, 

* Meandering, cool, or where the shade 
4 Of foliage cheers the verdant blade 

4 And deals to creature forms that mean 

4 Which life all hails, 'midst scorching scene ; 

4 Lest deaths are thine — are mine to prove, 

4 Lost, lost the blooming maid I love. 

4 Know thou, throughout this lovely sphere 

4 Death reigns — his title's firm and clear 

4 O'er all ; or sweets, or forms, or hues ; 

* Nor can one subject death refuse ; 

4 Sovereign he sways — beneath his feet, 

4 A moment's respite subjects greet, 

4 Then instant pass, as clouds away — 

4 Unknown the face of future day. 

4 Or storms, or sunbeams, or the cold 

4 Death's purpose serve — his sway unfold — 



bZ 



10 FABLES AND 



4 Remove from being, or the flower, 
4 Or creature forms. In ruthless power, 
4 Nor spares his hand ; but, iron sway, 
4 Pure loves he severs — sweeps from day. 
' Yet list, O list and comfort hails — ' 
4 Light shines, and truth and love prevail 

* Lo, these die not — the living germ, 

4 Minute, 'midst deaths uprears, and firm, 

' From age to age the beauteous rose 

4 Germs, sprouts, matures, unknown repose. 

' Far, far away, in ruthless hour 

4 Individuals pass, yet blooms the flower, 

* Ancient as time and, as his sway 
4 Perpetual. One awful day 

4 Sweeps, from long being hues and forms 
4 And time and death and spheres and storms. 
4 Then, then to everlasting things, 
4 Fair toiler, bright thy spirit wings ; 
1 Ail anxious ceases and thy frame, 

* Unwearied soars — eternal flame, 1 



MORAL POEMS. II 



From anxious, O ye mortals, cease ; 
To providence give care — give peace ; 
Nor mourn, nor tease — adore, obey. 
Probation's hour, where death bears sway 
Soon past, life, life shall reign 
And everlasting bloom the scene. 



* a 



12 FABLES AND 



MATERNAL INSTINCT. 



THE summer peered in green, 
Blithe soared the beauteous plumed, 
Rich were the flowers seen, 
And fruits ripe forms assumed ; 
Uptuned the concert, sweet 
Of maids and swains, aloud, 
As round the hay-field treat 
Sat, bland the rustic crowd ; 
The oxen lowed and clear 
Crowed out the village cock, 
Upreared the ass his ear 
And the grand horse his lock ; 
When from the pasture green 
Strayed wide the bleating dams, 
A torrent stream between 
And distant played the lambs. 



aiORAE POEMS. 13 



Creation in its parts, 
Its nature — fitness view, 
Compare with curious arts, 
Or mimic's motley crew 
Eugenio sought — he viewed 
The dams, the lambs, the flood 
And, opportune, tho' rude 
He whistled as he stood. 
Shrill was the note and loud ; 
Alarm it spread around ; 
Swift ran the lambs in crowd 5 
Uprose the bleating sound. 
Instant the dams, alarmed 
Athwart the torrent rushed ; 
Midst dashing foam they swarmed, 
In haste each other pushed. 
Unsought the winding way, 1 
By which they dry-shod strayed, 
Nor fear prevails to stay, 
Sheer instinct is obeyed. 



H FABLES AND 



The mother peered and, lost 
The timid was no more ; 
As tost the flood they tost 
And struggled for the shore. 
Straight to the bleating crowd, 
In line direct each flew, 
Bleating themselves more loud, 
Tho' danger stood to view. 
High beat Eugenio's breast 
In adoration pure ; 
Creation stood confest, 
Its instinct laws were sure. 
Would thou attain to wise, 
Q erring mortal view, 
Or sea, or earth, or skies 
And learn that God is true. 
Save to the Ostrich, know 
Jehovah has decreed 
Maternal instinct's flow 
To all created seed. 



MORAL POEMS. 15 



Wise providence, it bears 
From age to age along ; 
Each progeny it rears ; 
One pure affection strong. 



16 FABLES AND 



THE BEE. 



Beauteous insect, swift of wing 
Lovely, save thy smarting sting, 
Thee, in thy curious, busy tribes, 
Sweet honey Bee, my muse describes. 
Lo, as the sultry beams arise 
And summer sways 'midst ardent skies, 
Hum rears to hum— the issuing swarm 
Around the hive deal wide alarm. 
Myriad they fly, or now in mass, 
Or now dispersed, tumultuous pass. 
High sounds the key or kitchen pan, 
By housewife rung to stay the clan : 
Base this to music hummed in air, 
Attention meets— to rest their care. 
Now congregate in mass immense, 
Close swarming lost, or motion, sense. 



MORAL POEMS. • ]y 



Around their queen, to branch they cling", 

Wedged, foot to foot and wing to wing; 

Shook from their hold, the hive receives 

And, whelmed a palace instant gives 

To myriads in monarchial form 

And shelter from dread winter's storm. 

Lo, stragglers miss the open hive 

And furious at the housewife drive ; 

Spectators, or the man whose care 

Safe hived the swarm their fury share. 

Instant, or face, or ears, or head 

The sting deep pierces — poisons spread. 

Or wounds, or anguish, fears abound : 

They fly, or prostrate on the ground 

Shelter from angry myriad foe, 

Inflicting wanton, throbbing woe. 

Bees thus proclaim to reason's forms, 

44 Lo, sweets have stings, as fragrance thorns. 

Hark ! music flutters to the winds, 

Too large, the ear of man nor finds, 



1$ tABLES AND 



Save hum to hum, no distant note, 

Harmonious ; none, as sweetly float, 

From keys soft touched, in moving* strain. 

But flows this music sameness vain 

To ears attuned, of form minute, 

Each note distinguishing? repute 

Cries, " Bee to Bee due concert rears, 

" As well tuned pack thro 1 woodland hears, 

" Or, as to man in full toned band 

" The oratory, lungs and hand, 

" Rears storm of music, note to note* 

" Instead of hums to insects float." 

View the industrious plodding Bee ; 

The fabric of his labours see. 

Tho' said of circles, when they bear 

the hexagon in form they near — 

Circle to circle quadrate rears, 

Examine — view a space appears — 

Nor do his combs from circles bend, 

No opening closed appears the end. 



MORAL POEMS. 19 



Comb rears to comb, of form precise. 
In stories regular— finish nice ; 
Or store-house— cell for chrysalis, 
Closed that, 'gainst winter — open this : 
With lanes and streets, and avenue ; 
No labyrinth — proportion true. 
Lo, wonder cries, " Behold, and thrive 
" Industry — wisdom 'midst the hive! 
" Come ye, see instinct reason's lord ; 
" Can man vie with the humming horde? 
" Instinct, nor lord," we answer sheer, 
" With reason instinct cannot peer. 
«' Reason, from curious hastes and rears 
" Curious to curious— various bears; 
™ Or thinks, or acts — imagines — forms — 
64 Floats in the placid — rides the storms : 
M At home, wherever turns its will — 
" Whatever occupies its skill ; 
" But instinct, perfect in one thing 
** Nor can, to second one thing bring. 
C 



20 FABLES AND 



" Honey to cater — combs erect — 

" Economy of hive effect, 

44 To plodding Bee is all — beside, 

4; Nought can he compass — time, or tide,** 

Lo, summer yet in sunbeams peers 

And every lovely — fragrant rears. 

Soft, among the beauteous flowers 

Now hums the Bee and now he cowers; 

Now lost in odoriferous sweets ; 

Now o'er the hues he gently fleets ; 

'Midst pencilled beauties riots high 

And now salutes the solar sky ; 

Rests, runs, or wings, or music tones, 

Or sips the sweets of petal cones, 

Thus, thus the lovely summer's day, 

Luscious floats, in beams away. 

Nor deem him sluggard, lost in sweets; 

Say he, 'midst sultry shadowdy greets ; 

No, no, he labours — this is toil, 

Not riot; Loaded with the spoil, 



MORAL POEMS. 21 



Behold, him rise to lofty wing, 
Now soar in flight — in triumph sing ; 
Bear, swift thro' air his prize away 
And settle, with the close of day, 
On hive stone firm and straight within 
The hive his hard earned treasure bring— 
In store deposit honey pure ... 
'Gainst winter — coming winter sure ; 
When flowers and sweets and lovely forms 
Give place to chilling, raging storms ; 
And when, within his compact cell, 
Like hermit he must closely dwell ; 
But dwell with sweets, high treasured there, 
Which winter's gloomy durance cheer; 
And give him, when beneath the frost 
Creation's verdant face is lost, 
All he could taste and wish alive, 
The comforts of a honeyed hive. 
With reason blest, superior far 
To instinct's solitary star, 



22 FABLES AND 



Gay mortal, son of frolic's form. 

Who never thought of coming storm, 

Tho' storms are thine, more dread to share 

Than oscillations 'midst the air, 

One moment list, Thou art to die ! 

What storms, what sweets does death imply ? 

Hast thou once thought, or thought, once cared, 

What goods, what ills in death are shared? 

Mayhap, too trivial deemed to day, 

While sunbeams, placid round thee play, 

While sweets, of every form and hue 

Present no note of last adieu ; 

But, hark thee, death in surly mood 

Will sever thee and all this good ! 

And, list, 'midst hades, awful rear 

Lightnings tremendous — tempests drear! 

On earth, all mortal, like thyself, 

In using perishes — mere pelf; 

But there eternal sways — a reign 

Where hope, itself, nor smiles a dream. 



MORAL POEMS. 23 

One awful real, it rolls along, 
Reward, or ruin to the throng 
Who glitter now in gaudy plume, 
Or every name and form assume. 
Behold the summer Bee — like him, 
I charge thee, nor luxurious swim, 
Cull thou choice sweets — the honey pure 
Religion holds. As God is sure, 
Then shalt thou, 'midst the dead alive 9 
Enjoy eternal honeyed hive. 



24 FABLES AND 



THE YOUTH AND THE SHEPHERD. 

♦ Yes, the way wound aloft and lost, 
4 Nor can I, thus wandering, tost 

' The path o'er the heath, or the rock, 

* 'Midst darkness descry. Whence that shock I 
4 Behold, how it shudders and rolls; 

4 O'er my head, one ruin it scowls ; 
4 Whither, ah, whither! No, to fly 
; Impossible, ruin thus nigh. 
4 Help! help! Ah, how vain! lost the cry, 
4 'Midst the winds, as they terrific fly ; 
4 And, if heard, to help whence the hand ? 
4 To rescue, could mortal feet stand ? 
4 The rock hurries down and the crash 
4 The trees and the barriers dash : 

* It buries beneath, 'midst the stream 

* .fls ruins while, horrid, the gleam 



MORAL POEMS. 



4 Of the rush, the crash and the spray 

* Huge terror induces — dismay. 

4 It is gone. The rocks cease to roar 5 

* The terrific burst on the shore, 

* Hushed, nor longer scares: yet the wind 
« Still howls o'er the heath and the mind 

4 On the object thus awfully past, 

4 When the rock, from the precipice cast 

4 Crashed, shivered and rolled deep and wide 

4 And choaked up the hoarse fqaming tide, 

4 Chills with horror ! Lo, it rolled nigh. 

4 Nor was mine to check, or to fly ; 

4 That moment I counted all lost ; 

4 Now wander, unconscious and tost ; 

1 No hand, no kind voice to direct ; 

4 Nor can I by wandering effect 

* A hush of rude throbs, or of fears, 
4 Or stay the protruding salt tears ; 

4 Now vanishes hope ; I espy 

* No succour, lo, mine is to die S* 



26 FABLES AND 



Dark was the night and gloom profound 

Shot gleams of oorror wide around. 

On riches bent, in wild dismay, 

A Youth from far, sheer lost the way, 

Thus poured soliloquy of woe, 

'Midst rending and incessant throe. 

He poured, but poured his throe in vain ; 

No ear partook — no heart his pain. 

Cautious he treftds and slow his pace 

And forth both hands precede his face, 

That feeling may, while absent light 

Supply the awful want of sight. 

Huge were the rocks and narrow space, 

Between sufficed his crawling pace ; 

Upward yet tending, as below 

No safety seemed, there torrent's flow. 

Long did he crawl amidst despair ; 

Yet hope was bis, sometimes to share : 

Hope sheer uprears the eye of mind 

And, 'midst huge toils leaves throes behind. 



MORAL POEMS. 27 



A Shepherd near the heathy slope, 
Where three ravines their gorges ope, 
When yet a youth his cot npreared ; 
A lovely offspring long endeared, 
Or bride, or groom — one was their mind — 
Him good — she best of womankind, 
ho, this each tongue to stranger showed : 
Nor show — from each blest heart it flowed, 
His sheep without were all his care ; 
Within, all joy, or sorrow share. 
Faithful was Tray — an active cur ; 
And puss was sly— she pur to pur, 
In guise as friendly gave for food, 
Tho' prowl and rapine was her mood. 
Playful the children — mild the man 
And matron lovely, apt to scan, 
Or time, or tide for wisdom's rules 
The mother — " wise without the schools.'' 
Comfort was theirs — to day they fed 
And, grateful hailed the daily bread r 



28 FABLES AND 



From Him who gave, the Loon received— r 
Grace dwelt within and they believed 
Jehovah to the cottage bowed, 
As 'midst the palace, rich endowed. 
Prayer was their daily mood and praise ; 
And echo knew to sound their lays, 
When each, or elder named, or young, 
The evening verses duly sung: 
Or, now within, while tempests roll 
And to the chorus deep base howl, 
Or sheer without, serene and clear; 
When vales and hills their echoes rear. 
This night of storms, all sheer within, 
Save Tray, 'twas theirs to read and spin. 
Tray, from without, now barked, now wined; 
Now seemed to hunt and now to find : 
Restless, impatient ; yet in mood 
Which evil seemed not, nor seemed good ; 
Inviting, yet afraid to share, 
With partner near the social care ; 



MORAL POEMS. 29 



Now at the cot door heavy scratched, 
Now distant howled, or silent watched ; 
Now barked, now wined, invited, feared, 
Now fled — returned and seemed endeared. 
At length the Shepherd, roused by Tray 
To cot door, cautious bent his way. 
High blazed the hearth, as op'd the door 
Instant the light athwart the moor 
Shot 'midst the gorge of eastern dale ; 
Illume to rocks, as howled the gale. 
A figure leaned in pensive form, 
As pelted fierce the mountain storm ; 
Shelter it seemed from rocks to greet ; 
Nor motion shewed, or hands, or feet. 
Cautious, lest fraud his good intent 
Should meet, he on the figure bent ; 
More cautious still, as motion gone 
The figure seemed like one of stone. 
Courage assumed, or word, or act 
To view brought forth, ah, awful fact, 



- v -*-■ . Z. v =- 



30 V*BLES AND 



Life's lowest ebb was issuing slow — 
To hades a Youth was sinking low. 
Borne to the blazing cottage fire, 
Languid he g-roans — seems to expire : 
Yet soon revives — now rears his head — 
Refreshment meet before him spread, 
Upright he sits and accents flow, 
As round the cot the embers glow. 
His tongue on tender moments gone, 
When father — mother hailed their son, 
Dwelt long — sisters of lovely mould ! 
All which were left for glittering gold. 
Tho' blest with competance at home, 
His spirit lead — 'twas his to roam. 
Gold was his hope, yet gold away, 
With wings had sped to other sway; 
Bereft of all, a wanderer still, 
His route was lost near yonder hill ; 
Tremendous crash ! sheer from the rock 
Fell, hideous ruin, one huge block ; 



MORAL POEMS. 31 



For help, he cried, yet, far away, 
No hand, no voice, no powers obey! 
He 'scaped, but lost, he wandered drear; 
Groped, scrambled, crawled and sheltered there; 
Nor could sustain the conflict sore 
Of storms — recollection was no more* 
Highly he praised the cottage fare ; 
And boasted they his gains should share- 
Gains, soon which he, to health restored 
i 

Would rear from mines seen — not explored. 
Large he decreed to all reward 
And loud he pledged his high regard. 
Exclaimed " Each shall, in plenty meet 
" Riches and gorgeous honours greet. 1 ' 
Like some grand Nabob Ind uprears, 
Or blazing meteor darkness bears, 
Or being from the realms of light, 
Soaring, he seems to deal delight. 
Conscious, apparent of high worth, 
His peering words assume to troth; 



32 FABLES AND 



Yet hollow sounds the theme to ears 
Experienced — sage in honest fears. 

64 My son," the Shepherd, calmly said, 
" Reward I feel already sped : 
44 Benevolence, its own reward, 
44 On high fails not to meet regard \ 
" And much I fear, so large thy vows 
" Lest to thyself, while kindness flows 
44 It flows unconscious, save by name : 
u From sordid, kindness never came. 
44 Thy thirst of gold, O Youth, subdue, 
* 4 And learn that path, sublime and true 
44 Which sages mild proclaimed of yore, 
44 This, more than mines will fill thy store. 
44 To mortal, little appertains 
44 Of all his toils and all his gains : 
44 He feeds to live — to warm he clothes 
44 And more his system only loathes: 
44 Shelter he needs, inclement near, 
< 4 Alike then cot and palace cheer: 



MORAL POEMS. 33 



44 Short time is his — the morn to man, 

4 ; Thro' noon, to even but a span. 

44 Naked he rises — naked lies ; 

44 Of man we note — he's born — he dies! 

44 His competence and ease at home, 

44 From which mere gold prevails to roam, 

44 A phantom woos; which rises, falls, 

44 High gust assumes, yet, instant palls; 

44 And, like the ignis-fatuus shines 

44 But to ingulf in hidden mines ; 

" Where, lost to day he digs and hews 

44 And life knows not, save mere refuse, 

44 My son thy head uprear to Him 

44 Who pleasure's cup fills to the brim ; 

44 Let Him who formed thy frame of clay 

44 And blest thee with reprieve this day, 

44 Whose riches, more than gold are worth, 

" Who speaks and all His words are troth, 



34 FABLES AND 



*' Let Him thy fear, thy love hence share, 
" And cease from gold thy sordid care ; 
4i So shall thy face with honours shine 
" And riches roll for ever thine." 



i 



MOHAL POEMS. 35 



THE OWL, THE SWALLOW, THE 
SPORTSMAN, THE VIPER, THE EA- 
GLE AND THE POINTER. 



■jvsfryfr**'**- 



Up rose the bird of night ; 
He winged his prowling way ; 
Soon fell, before his might 
The swallow of the day. 
Borne, 'midst his talons high 
The writhing captive prest 
Heaved, in many a sigh 
Jts lovely snow like breast. 
These charged with rapine fell 
The robber strong and fierce ; 
Nor ceased his deeds to tell, 
Which hearts fraternal pierce. 
How he the spouse, the son, 
The mother, sister bore ; 
The callow brood, how won 
And, fierce their bosoms tore. 
d3 



36 FABLES ASD 



Racked with sad tortures, hosts 
Of friendly birds of name ; 
Nor stayed they from his boasts 
Of slaughter on the plain. 
"Midst fens and reedy lakes, 
Quadrupeds writhed in woe ; 
And open fields and brakes 
Had felt his deadly blow. 
" Tyrant avaunt," they sighed, 
" Thy sum of slaughter cries, 
" For myriads which have died, 
" Thy felon carcase dies." 

A sportsman forth for game 
Kad sped, at break of day ; 
Mid-day and even came 
Athwart his trackless way, 
Yet came, nor bird, nor beast 
By legal forms assigned, 
To 'squire or knightly feast 
Within his pointer's wind. 



MORAL POEMS. 37 



Chagrined, amidst a brake, 
A moment to recruit 
Exhaustion-^-just awake, 
He sat, as oyster mute. 
Sudden he saw, at hand 
The felon and his prize - y 
A shot at my command 
At length appears, he cries. 
Or game, or bird of prey, 
No matter, I must fight ! 
Down rolls the bird of day 
And sapient bird of night. 
He viewed, nor flowing vein 
Of humour's vent to grudge, 
Which ran in surly strain, 
He spoke — a partial judge. 
" Well has my levelled piece 
" Stayed, agent of the skies, 
M These breakers of the peace. 
" This felon and his prize. 



38 FABLES AND 



" Two robbers fierce on wing — 
44 Perpetual slaughter theirs; 
44 Of insect tribes this king; 
44 Or bird, or beast that shares. 
44 Prowling, the bird of night, 
44 In mighty ravage bears 
44 From air, earth, water freight, 
44 And for his young ones tears ; 
44 While 'midst the summer's sun 
44 The swift winged swallows dart, 
44 In vagaries, seeming fun 
44 And myriad insects smart. 
44 Oft has my piece from plain, 
44 From airy heights and rocks 
44 Culled me choice food and slain 
44 Delicious, more than fiocks. 
44 Amidst the spoil I sat 
44 And rioted in feasts ; 
44 Boasting how rich — how fat 
44 These trophies to my guests: 



MORAL POEMS. 39 



44 Although this day has passed, 
44 No victim's blood I view, 
44 Justice has nerved at last 
44 My arm and slain this crew."' 
He spoke — a viper fierce, 
Forth issued from the vale ! 
Her fangs his muscles pierce ; 
He writhes in tortures pale. 
To mighty fever's height, 
The vessels instant swell, 
Distended with the freight 
Of active poison fell. 
Horrors uprear and dread ; 
His eye-balls cease to play ; 
He sinks — the earth his head 
Receives from light of day ! 
High, 'midst his soaring flight 
^.n eagle viewed the snake, 
Pounce, from the airy height 
He darts amidst the brake, 



10 FABLES AND 



Furious, he claims, as due 
And bears his scaly prize, 
Glittering with varied hue 
To his bright realms — the skies. 
Full "midst his breast his fangs 
The scaly viper bears ; 
Writhing, in instant pangs 
The eagle furious tears. 
Down, from the height, among 
The sportsman and his slain, 
Fall and increase the throng 
Both, dead upon the plain. 
Blank stood the pointer old, 
A witness of the fray ; 
Less fierce, yet full as bold, 
By wiles to take the prey. 
Long time was his to trace 
The covey o'er the mead ; 
Found, eye them face to face 
In guise of friendly deed : 



MORAL POEMS. 41 



As near the sportsman hies, 
Straight, fierce he starts the game ; 
And, as the covey £ies 
They fall beneath his aim. 
Blood guilt was his, decoyed 
The friendly victims bled ; 
The felon was employed — 
Took his reward — was fed. 
Most guilty, was he spared 
That man might fear and know, 
Nor judgments here are shared 
But mercy deals each blow ? 
Blank stood the pointer old, 
A witness of the fray ; 
The sportsman dead, he howled 
And darkness closed the day. 
Learn, mortal to be wise, 
Nor scan with partial eye 
The judgments of the skies ; 
For thy weak sight too high. 



42 FABLES AND 



Nor judge for crimes thy soul, 
In other's judgment read ; 
Lest, guilty thou, as foul 
Meet judgment on thy head. 
If retributive peers 
Apparent in thy sight. 
Beware — permit thy fears 
To warn— ask, " Am I rights 



MORAL POEMS. 43 



CONSCIENCE. 



#vryvr*.yv./v 



Blithe, from port the fair ship sailing 
Launches to the placid main ; 
Evening scowls and blasts assailing, 
Instant portend toil and pain. 
Ocean hideous bursts around her ; 
One vast dashing foams the deep ; 
Midnight threatens dismal founder ; 
Dread the tempests, howling sweep. 
Lost the sunbeam, lost the crescent, 
Every star lost in the gloom, 
Every guide, tho' long conversant 
Sinks before the pending doom. 
As the dire, appalling instant, 
When the face of battle lowers; 
Front to front, few paces distant, 
E'er the hurling thunder pours. 
B 



44 FABLES AKD 



Hark, a crash! a hideous billow, 
Curling, poops the stately ship ; 
Now she sinks, like bending willow ; 
Now she quivers like the lip. 
Scared, the Osprey loudly screaming 
Wrecks, yea worse than tempests howl, 
Hope — ah lost ! how lovely beaming, 
Lost the anchor of the soul ! 
Suspense the moment full possesses, 
Every face aghast, appalled ; 
Despair fierce rises — now oppresses — 
Tyrant reigns — each heart inthralled. 
Who outlives this awful moment, 
Known alone, with God remains: 
Seaman, landsman, equal storm-rent, 
Hope or action each refrains. 
4 Ah, why, tempting ocean's billow 
4 Thus to burst upon my head, 
s Left I soft, recumbent pillow 
4 By maternal fondness spread 2 



MORAL POEMS. 45 



4 Lo, parental swaying, lovely, 

4 Like a brazen thrall I spurned ; 

4 Now, ye thralls, now, now I prove ye 5 

* Hateful folly, thou art mourned. 

4 Tears of blood, O could ye, flowing" 

* Wash my frightful crimes away ! 
4 Yes, I saw a mother bowing ; 

4 Grief, ah, sealed her eyes to day! 

4 Stretched, a father, mournful groaning, 

4 Cried, 4t Alas, my wife — my son!" 

4 Spread his fostering hands, bemoaning :, 

4 Groaned and sunk into the tomb. 

- 4 Yet I ran— I flew, vindictive, 

4 Sister's — brother's right o'erthrew : 

4 Swayed the iron rod, afflictive ; 

4 More audacious yet I grew. 

4 Outraged, fierce, Jehovah's mandate ; 

4 Plundered — steeped my hands in gore. 

'- Now his awful bar I stand at, 



Nor his mercy can implore. 

e2 



MiMWMMMi 



46 FABLES AND 



4 Break thou heart — O rend, ye sorrows , 

* Twain this brazen frame in throes ! 

4 Can I view a mother's horrors ? 

1 See again a father's woes 1 

1 Hear,' " Restore thy plundered sister ; 

" Wash thy hands from brother's blood V 

4 Ah, she weeps ! O list her, list her ! 

' There a murdered brother stood ! 

4 His was that shriek — yea, my mothers— 

4 Father's — sister's — all combined ! 

4 He comes — justice, due recovers 

4 Outraged rights, long cast behind !' 

Thus amidst the hideous crashing, 

One in seaman's garb, aloud 

Poured his crimes more frightful dashing 

Than the foaming billows proud. 

Would thou 'scape huge perturbation, 

By some furious danger prest, 

Would thou meet with resignatioa 

Death — all hail eternal rest j 



MORAL POEMS. 47 

■ ^ ■ i 7" 

Would thou prosper in thy labour, 
In thy youth peer lustrous — bright ; 
Would thou, confident of favour 
Long enjoy the beaming light ; 
Like the oak, arise transcendent; 
Like the lily splendid bloom ; 
Like the sun, from noon resplendent, 
Glorious, brave the evening's gloom ; 
Would thou days long live, inherent 
'Midst the land which gave thee birth, 
Honour thou thy earthly parent ; 
Serve the God which made the earth. 



48 FABLES AND 



THE CYNIC AND THE PHILOSOPHER. 

The rose its beauteous face displayed 
And sunbeams taught how sweet the shade : 
How soothing flows the zephyrus breeze ; 
How lovely contemplation's ease. 

A Cynic forth to taste the air 
And summer's fragrance sweetly share ; 
Yet not in action but in shade, 
Ease was the principle obeyed, 
Slow moved, from toiling city's throng 
Where groves resound with luscious song : 
Thus, while the soft waft breeze, to cool 
From surface of meandering pool 
His frame crept o'er, the feast of mind 
Might issue from the feathered kind. 
Loud did he rate the scorching beam ; 
And praised, as loud the cooling stream ; 



MORAL POEMS. 49 

The parching summer folly named ; 

And drought on earth, pernicious blamed ; 

Huge lassitude deplored and sought, 

In ease refined, even death of thought; 

That, safe from toil of being he 

Might, for the moment cease to be : 

Yet love of life that being hailed 

And sighed lest years should cry, "It failed." 

To be and not to be his aim, 

As sweet, or bitter hailed his frame : 

Or, far the bitter his to greet, 

Or morn, or noon, or even sweet. 

Now lolled majestic, half reclined 

His body — half no more his mind, 

The visual orb alone employed ; 

Sometimes the hands, as flies annoyed 

And, ever and anon his tongue 

With curses, as they smarting stung ; 

His foot too, as the busy hum 

Approached and scared his soft ear-drum ; 



50 FABLES ANI> 



But these, involuntary to name 

With acts of choice would action shame ; 

Alone the visual rolled by will, 

Each muscle else, from choice was still ; 

And visual rolled, because to roll 

No strain exerted 'midst his poll, 

Nor from the soft recumbent drew 

To nourish aching fibre's crew. 

Yet mind, when mind to action called, 

The fibreous race most deadly mauled. 

Instead of smile, that act of ease — 

The soft complacency of please, 

Up drew his muscles, like a bow 

And shot a curse, like arrow's blow : 

Twang went the fibres — jar the cords 

And tremulous shook his frame with words; 

Yes, muscle, tendon, artery, nerve, 

From lineal drawn to aching curve, 

Twanged forth in oscillations dire, 

As ear-drums when huge cannons fire, 



MORAL POEMS. 51 



Or cat-gut. by some furious hand 
Scraped till outnoised the dancing band. 
O'er soft, o'er sweet, o'er lovely scenes 
The eyeball glanced, anon it gleans 
Defect imagined — sheer at home, 
Keen it surveys — forbears to roam. 
A fine young colt of thorough breed 
Frisked, leaped and galloped round a mead; 
Few weeks had sped since light of day, 
Free taught these frisking limbs to play — - 
Since, from the womb and stillness sped 
The sun had viewed and reared its head. 
44 Behold," in motion deep within 
The Cynic cried, for words were sin, 
Amidst the beams of sultry day 
To throw in floods thus quick away; 
" Behold yon colt, how young, how bold, 
44 Nor yet one month of sunbeams old ; 
* ; Nathless the midnight chilling air, 
- ; Or noonday's fire these limbs can share ; 



-kw* 



32 



FABLES AND 



4 Save from the teats, and these it finds 

' Naught from a mother's care it minds; 

; No fostering, feeding, dandling cheers 

4 Those limbs, or quiets its cries, or fears ; 

4 No swaddling garments — cordials cram 

4 From nurse's hands, nor from its dam, 

4 But, bold erect it frisks, it neighs 

6 And seems created but to please. 

4 From chaos thus to feotus brought — 

4 To perfect animal quick as thought I 

4 Behold the puny infant man, 

4 First month of his transactions scan ; 

4 How washed, how dandled, cleaned and fed 

4 And softly laid on downy bed : 

4 The winds of heaven, o'er his face 

4 To playful breeze but once find grace ; 

4 And that 'midst custom time untold 

4 Which church-way leads ; then, full tenfold 

4 Garment to garment shields the skin ; 

' Scarce left a hole to breathe within. 



MORAL POEMS. 53 



" What singing, rocking, rattling rears 
" His cries to quiet — calm his fears ; 
44 While helpless, wrathful, ill at ease, 
44 His every action serves to tease.' ,, 
4 Can this be just — the lord of all 
4 Beneath the brute, thus low to fall V 
44 The horse, a pleasing object neighs, 
44 The man no art, no care can please. 
44 One every want the mead supplies, 
44 The other, nursed and fed still cries; 
44 Diseases rack — what numbers die!' 1 
4 While colts, or care, or death defy; 
4 Incongruous this— sheer want of skill, 
4 Or want of worse — to man good will, 
4 Thus to reduce; and, as in scorn 
4 Say to his years,' 44 How puny born, 
44 Thy eyes behold, in this thy son ; 
44 With his puerile thy childhood one.*' 
4 Why not at once the noble act 
; Complete — uprear the man compact ; 



— •>• 



54 FABLES AND 



* In strength, in action — wisdom man. 
4 Instant as being ? thus the plan, 

* Complete throughout would perfect beam 
4 And not, as now like waking dream,' 

A sage philosopher appeared, 

By him this rant was overheard. 

Creation he beheld a wise — 

A lovely whole ; nor could despise, 

Or being, or the lifeless clod, 

Or aught the work of wisdom's God ; 

Zeal gave him words, the cause was good, 

Truth called, as she majestic stood, 

His love on truth had long been stayed, 

Her cause was his and he obeyed. 

4 Behold,' he cried, 4 the lofty oak, 

* Towering superior to all yoke, 

4 Firm it defies the howling storm, 

4 Or mountain, or of ocean form ; 

4 Wide ocean's lord and lord of trees, 

4 'Midst hurricanes, or zephyr's breeze, 



M©RAL POKMS. 55 

4 Or when the missile thunders roar 
4 And battles steep its pores with gore ; 
4 Of strength the emblem to the eye, 
4 As years roll forth — as ages fiy ; 
4 Yet acorned jerm, minute and small 
4 The tree produces, huge and tall : 
4 Slow is its growth and. millions round 
4 Upspring, high tower then meet the ground, 
4 A germ — a tree — a ruin — dead, 
4 Ere rears the oak its utmost head. 
4 Thus, thus behold the man despised — 
4 The germ of mind, by wisdom prized, 
4 From nothing to a point uprise, 
4 Expand — mature — salute the skies ; 
4 With angels one — an heir of life 
4 Eternal and with glory rife ; 
4 With God made one, the Spirit — Son, 
4 Gone long probation, glory won — 
4 Transformed, enlarged, from pure to pure, 
4 Length, depth, breadth, height sublime and 
sure ; 



56 FABLES AND 



4 While that blithe colt, thus formed to please 

4 Superior to its dam, which neighs 

4 Nor can attain ; at once taught all 

4 And all become you instinct call, 

' Your colts o'er puny infants lord, 

4 Eut, do your horses proof afford — 

4 That instinct laws superior move, 

4 Or higher in gradation prove 

4 Than man, the subject of lament? 

4 List, and to truth give thou assent, 

4 Experience, sympathy and power 

4 Time only gives, not natal hour, 

4 Of body puny, as of mind, 

4 First we behold all human kind ; 

4 But infant man experience deals 

4 To those who view— to her who feels j 

4 Thus, taught and teaching every hour 

4 Adds wisdom, sympathy and power. 

4 Feeling we deem this higher sense, 

6 To which the brute makes no pretenc* 



MORAL POEMS. 



* Feelings are exercise to mind, 
4 As to corporeal, imconfined 

4 Action of limbs — they strengthen — rear, 
4 Till mind with angel knows to peer ; 
4 Power flows and discipline and lore, 
4 Nor longer does the stripling pore, 
4 But launches into Infinite mind ; 
4 Aloft, soars high — wings unconfined : 
4 A splendid being, clothed throughout with 
light; 

* To inferior awful, and to equal bright, 
4 And to superior germ of living worth ; 
4 To Deity, lo each, lo all beam forth ; 

4 To say of him, 1 44 Created man, 
44 Compact at once his perfect plan," 
4 Is to unman — by limit mean, 
4 Convert him to a waking dream, 

* Compared with power, sublime on wing, 

4 Which stays not ; but, while annals ring, 
8 Yea, when all annals fail and time 
4 Fails not, but wings, yet more sublime, 
f2 



* 



58 FABLES AXD 



* More wide, more high his soaring way 

* 'Midst infinite — eternal day! 

* And, lest in state of trial here 

* Too soon on high his soul should bear, 
' 'Midst loftiest in the scale of things, 

6 Before experience meetness brings, 
1 The mean — the puerile bears to view, 

* This lesson teaching, ever true, 

* Pride nor to manhood should adhere, 
4 More than to infant ; nor should rear 

' Aught, save the humble prayer, the praise, 
4 From man to heaven all his days.' 



MORAL POEMS. 59 



HENRY AND EMMA, 



Bright shone the lunar orb 
Athwart the foliaged dale ; 
Where verdure's dews absorb 
And softly flows the gale ; 
As Henry distant sped, 
Beneath the shelving rocks, 
Unconscious every tread, 
His only track the flock's. 
Tinged with a hazy red, 
Behold the lunar beam, 
Gloom, 'stead of brightness shed 
O'er mountain, dale and stream. 
Portentious viewed the siarn, 
Loud cries a shepherd, wise, 
" Nor genial blasts are thine 
rt Fair vale, but angry skies. 
f3 



60 FABLES AND 



44 Soon shall the welkin, prest 

" By airy currents roll, 

44 In torrents down thy breast ; 

" In direful tempest's howl. 

"As when a calm, serene 

" Allures the stately barge, 

44 Far from each verdant scene, 

" 'Midst ocean's vast, at large ; 

" Till high uprears the gale, 

" Mounts, on fierce mountains rise, 

" Crashed are, or hull, or sail ; 

" She sinks — her captain dies. 

44 So lures the calm thy head, 

" Unconscious youth, from far 

44 To yon fell glen, bested 

44 With torrents none should dare. 

44 O stay, O stay my son, 

44 Nor tempt the mighty gloom ; 

44 Behold the storm begun ; 

" Avert thy instant doom. 



MORAL POEMS. 61 



" Bend to my cot thy way ; 

" A shepherd's fare is thine ; 

" And, soon as peers the day 

" To point thy path be mine." 

Impetuous youth, he heard, 

But Henry scorned to fear ; 

Love, mutual love endeared 

And Emma's cot was near. 

Mourn, lovely Emma mourn ! 

Thy Henry's mangled corse, 

Still rolJs adown yon bourn; 

Borne by the torrent's force I 

Fierce beat the storm — amain 

The impetuous torrent dashed ; 

The rustic bridge in twain, 

Awful! beneath him crashed. 

Instant he sunk — he rose ; 

On Emma loud he cried ; 

Tossed, dashed, o'erwhelmed, in throes, 

Mangled he sunk — he died ! 



62 FABLES AND 



List, O impetuous youth, 
Unconscious ye of woe, 
Sage is the voice of truth ; 
List and avert the throe. 
When wisdom warns return ; 
Pursue her better way ; 
Serenely pass the bourn 
And win the realms of day. 



MORAL POEMS. 



THE OAK. 



Clear was the mom and sunbeams played , 
As rose aloft the orb of day ; 
Eugenio woo'd the foliaged shade 
Of upland wood — there bent his way. 
The woodman plied the sharpened steel 
And heavy strokes resounded wide, 
While deep below the torrents peal 
And plumed voices airy ride. 
Beneath an oak with dome-like head, 
High towering o'er the woodland throng, 
Whose foliaged branches ample spread, 
Seated, as swelled the feathered song, 
Thus ran the tenour of his muse ; 
While the hoarse croak of raven's tone 
And jar the jays of varied hues 
To woodman's stroke and torrents moan. 



64 FABLES AND 



4 Lo, once an acorn, beauteous cup 

4 Held Ihy small germ and fed its frame ; 

4 Now reared an oak, high towering up, 

4 O'er the tall forest trees thy name. 

4 Oft since the stately sire arose 

4 And peered an oak in forest vast, 

4 Oft has his sons enjoyed repose 

4 And, in their turn away have past. 

4 Age to long age has rose and fled 

4 Since acorn germed and shot the tree 

4 Which, fled gave birth, from the same bed 

4 To sons and sons, and, last to thee. 

' As men of ancient high degree, 

4 Who age to age on the same ground 

4 Bear rule — trace up their pedigree 

4 And name their own the country round i 

4 So, on the selfsame stool, at ease 

4 Uprears the son from fallen sire ; 

4 Towering aloft, above the trees 

4 And drinking in the solar fire. 



MORAL POEMS. 65 

4 And, like mankind, behold away 

' Pass father, son and grandson's name ; 

* The root, alone of ancient day 

; Yields sap and rears successive frame/ 

The woodman comes — make way, he rears, 

Aloft the axe of tempered steel : 

Full on the oak his action bears 

And splinters fly at every wheel. 

Lo, crash it falls — the wood resounds — . 

Wild echoes spread from dell to dell — 

Terrors awake — the hare quick bounds 

And wide the sheep-dogs instant yell ? 

Huge bole and branch — and foliaged head. 

View low the ample ruin lie, 

Encumber earth, as wide they spread 

And with the mighty fallen vie ! 

Nor shall they lie in cumbrance round, 

As refuse vile and cast away : 

'Tis theirs to peer, with laurels crowned, 

Which sole with death of time decay. 



66 FABLES AND 



Oak name the mighty ship of war! 
Oak name the ship of commerce form ! 
As oak the heart of Britain's Tar 
And oak the ship that braves the storm ! 
Proverbial, or for strength the oak 
For bottom — for endurance long : 
For vigours, which sustain the stroke, 
Superior to the forest throng. 
See o'er the peopled ocean peer 
Brave Albion's oak of ancient name : 
Thro' every clime, behold it steer ; 
In every clime and age the same. 
Save, as it rears more noble height, 
Itself in former age surpass : 
More noble, fraught with nobler freight- 
The sons of Albion higher class. 
Sons of that Book which Europe rears 
To sage pre-eminence from birth — 
Book, which Elohim's image bears 
And Albion's ships bear thro' the earth. 



MORAL POE.MS. &7 



Of commerce sons — of art, nor less 

Than legal sons of freedom born : 

Sons of that lore which men express 

Profound and those which men adorn. 

Lo, ruminations new arose — 

High swelled Eugenio's ardent breast, 

Against the forest king's high foes 

Wrath boiled, whose spirits know not rest, 

And thus, anew upreared his song, 

Jealous lest Albion's strength decay — 

Lest branches torn, the stem less strong, 

From rot induced, oak pass away. 

4 Charles is dead — his direct line, 

4 Lone, in exile pine away; 

4 Freedom's kings, high o'er them shine ; 

4 Bright, as high meridian day. 

4 Can the dead the living slay — 

4 Trouble yet the sons of men ? 

4 Legends teach to spirits lay — 

4 Tell how dead men come again: 
G 



68 FABLES AND 



6 How they haunt the selfsame spot 
4 Which contained their living all. 
4 Earthly manners nor forgot — 
6 Frolic, mischief fill the hall. 
8 Here no legend rolls, but truth ; 
4 Dead, the Charles' rise and slay : 
4 Mischief's spirit ruin streweth — 
4 Year to year, on oak-save day. 
4 Speak thou oak— Great Britain's fort- 
4 Wall of power to freedom's isles, 
4 How thy members, torn in sport 
4 Die, while village festal smiles ? 
4 Speak, thou twenty-ninth of May, 
4 When the Charles' spirits range ; 
4 Mangling, dancing, oaken day; 
4 Oak, to thee a deadly change ? 
4 Lo, whole arms dress cottage door : 
4 Branches, every where, around 
4 Deck the windows — horses o'er — 
e Twigs and leaves, how ye abound ! 



MORAL POEMS. 69 



4 Waste of verdure bears the sap, 

* Sap which should the bole increase, 

* Into idle foliage'' lap — 

- Leaves torn stumps to rot at ease. 
4 Navy, view thy strength forlorn — 
4 Mischief— frolic dealt the stroke: 

* Branches — arms, from trunk rude torn, 

* Mix decay with heart of oak! 
4 See the noble, stately tree ; 

4 Base of Albion's daring cruise; 
4 Fence, O liberty, to thee, 
4 Hollow, rotten — mere refuse. 
4 Charles', thus your spirits rove ; 
4 Thus the sons of freedom groan ; 
4 Thralls from you alive they prove ; 
4 Dead, your havoc Bri tains moan. 
4 Time was, ancient poets say,' 
44 Out the brains, the man was dead!" 
4 Brains and sinews far away, 

1 Yet the Charles' peer the head. 

g2 



70 FABLES AND 



* Rouse, thou navy — Bri tains rouse; 

4 Haste — the high command be spoke ; 

* Lay these spirits — haste — espouse 

* Freedom's pale — the heart of oak ! 

* Sacred hold the precious bough ; 

* Like the Druids, save the tree : 

1 JAH, The Mighty, gave, I trow, 
4 Britain, this strong arm to thee !' 
O youth, if wisdom's thine on earth, 
Each fact observe which thwarts thy way : 
Cause note and consequence in birth 
And as each peers meridian day. 
So shalt thou treasure up in store 
Truth, ample in its living scope; 
Enrich thy heart with sages lore, 
Tho 1 young with hoary sages cope. 
When rolling years have reared thy head 
And filled with truth thy ample page, 
Then, from thy treasures cast the bread 
And youth, from thee shall peer to sage. 



MORAL POEMS. 



71 



All generations pass away! 
As each superior wisdom rears, 
Experience hastes meridian day — 
Whose facts, recorded, memory bears. 



c3 



72 FABLES AND 



THE TWO SEXES. 

Forth from his den the tiger flies j 
The forest savage fights, or dies : 
Battle to battle marks his path, 
Or slaughter feeds his hideous wrath. 
Wolf falls on wolf, in nightly prowl 
And mountains echo hack the howl. 
Dog, tho' domestic, instinct borne 
Now tears his fellow — now is torn. 
Lo, far beneath the foaming deep, 
Where placid reigns and whirlwinds sleep, 
Nor wave, nor current, nor the force 
Of surface tempest, bellowing hoarse, 
Wrath to fierce wrath spills fellow blood — 
Impurples deep the briny flood. 
Nor from the surface scared by spray. 
Amphibious dive and fishes slay: 



MORAL POEMS. 73 



Or on the flood, or on the shore, 

'Midst wounds and deaths, like furies roar. 

Aloft, where aerial rides the storm 

And only plumed their feats perform, 

Plume chases plume and aerial war 

Inflicts fell death, or prints his scar. 

Yea, sheer beneath earth's surface rove 

The prowling moles, while worms death prove ; 

And mole to mole deals death around, 

Already buried in the ground. 

His den the warlike spider holds 

And death his cobweb fine infolds ; 

Nor sole die flies, behold, to war, 

Spider the martial spider dare; 

Fierce deeds ensue and gory slain 

Falls one dread chief on silken plain. 

From slaughter nor peers reason's man, 

Like reason, lo, his bears a plan ; 

By rule, mowed down whole squadrons firm, 

Aloof from wrath, in gory whelm ; 



74 FABLES AND 



'Midst health to instant death a prey. 
Ambition leads — the hosts obey — 
Man deals to man, as brute to brute, 
Dread deaths ; yet he, amidst dispute, 
Calm views the scene, directs the swords 
And deals round myriad deaths by words. 
'Gainst fierceness in the warlike male, 
Weighs softness in the female scale ; 
And from the twain, when viewed extreme, 
Behold, uprear, the happy mean ; 
Courage, one with compassion's eye 5 
This wars — its foes, or fall, or fly; 
That, when the warrior, conquered bows, 
Captive receives and life allows. 
Associate, thus in honour's chair, 
The hardy brave — the delicate fair. 
Yea, up as finer reason peers 
And wisdom mellows into years, 
Nor mere of numbers, but of sage, 
And youthful men are men of age, 



MORAL POEUS. 



Lo, equapoise, of weight refined 

Moulds the t\yo sexes one in mind — 

Associates — rears the lovely pale, 

Society named and keeps it hale. 

From man to man the compact hies 

And round the land fraternal flies: 

My country, lo, my country rears 

And high above all foreign peers ; 

My wife, my offspring are the stake ; 

Each finer feeling, broad awake, 

Or danger sees, or far away, 

Provides against the coming day 

When giant danger, unperceived 

Would, else of these leave all bereaved. 

As savage lours in man, lo, mind, 

"Midst darkness tombed, lies sheer confined. 

Reason, itself, fell brute becomes; 

The man to brutal passion dooms; 

And, as from reason's height he falls, 

So in the scale the sexual palls. 



FABLES AND 



To fierceness rearing, like the male, 
How light the soft in female scale. 
Vindictive, vengeful, taught in blood, 
Imbrued their hands and fierce their mood : 
While savage, prowling, like the brute, 
Excess of fierce, the males dispute : 
Lo, they behold, they frown, they fight; 
The strongest^ ever in the right. 
And far from polished nation's stake, 
Instead of wife, they numbers take. 
Kindness and murder know no space, 
With wives, or parents, or their race — 
Sheer infants are exposed, or slain ; 
Or, by each sex thrown to the main. 
Ruined, 'midst savage act the stake 
Which feeling keeps in man awake, 
All reason outraged, all defied, 
Nor sex, nor rank, in wrath, descried, 
Alike vindictive, youth, or age, 
Alike in deeds of blood engage : 



MORAL POEMS. 



Wrath boils to wrath and force prevails, 
Or fraud ; nor argument avails. 

From moss-grown bed, up Fraca rose, 
At peace with all — none counted foes. 
Fair Lasca, erst in virgin state, 
First time had slept his bridalmate. 
His wives, his offspring, ail forgot, 
All vengeful wrath and every plot, 
Or male, or female to annoy, 
Or warrior, potent to destroy, 
To gods unnamed, sacrific rear 
Fair gifts, unclouded by a tear ; 
And rites, as obscene pagan creed 
To demons had of old decreed ; 
Propitious they, in his esteem 
To peace insure and riches beam. 

Lo, from the rude sacrific rite 
To feasts of concord guests, invite 
Croud round the green and feats display, 
Of dexterous might till closing day. 



78 FABLES AND 



Now even shines and now the moon. 

Reared high displays her silver noon. 

Dispute arose — the quarrel grew — 

Fraca fierce on a warrior flew ; 

With gore his right hand instant stained, 

Thro' hlood to death his cause maintained : 

The warrior fought, overborne he fell, 

Nor groaned — his bosom scorned to swell : 

Deep pierced and gashed with wound to wound* 

'Midst death he calmly met the ground. 

Vengeance, the war whoop instant rears — 

The hatchet fierce 'gainst Fraca bears , 

Or brother, father, son upsprung ; 

Or wife, or mother vengeance rung. 

Fraca the sound heard — saw the storm — 

A moment thought — ran to perform. 

His wives, his offspring — Lasca slew 

And instant to the forest flew. 

Beneath the shade, ere morning rose, 

Far, far away he sought repose : 



MORAL POEMS. 79 



Nor sought in vain, his eyelids closed 
And, far from vengeance safely dozed ; 
For sweet was victory ; lo, At sped 
And sunk in death the warrior's head ; 
And sweet, to Fraca was the sweep 
Which left no kindred blood to weep — 
No wife, no son, no father, old 
To satiate vengeance strong and bold ; 
Vengeance, as certain, had he spared 
As those foul deeds his right hand dared. 
A stranger, in a far strange land, 
Fraca sought now, in foreign band 
Associate minds ; while years away 
Swept vengeance from its bloody sway. 
With manners and with men as new, 
In surly mood the seasons flew ; 
Disturbed, distracted home he hies 
And from his strange associates flies ; 
The plain he views which gave him birth 

And hails supreme that plot on earth : 
H 



80 FABLES AND 



Where, youth he played, or ardent sung, 

Or first assay, the war lance flung ; 

Amidst associates, playful ran 

And rose to stature of a man. 

There he, soft slept and there the hand, 

Maternal stayed, ere yet to stand 

His limbs had found ; ere yet his tongue 

Had lisped the note, or war song sung. 

As statue fixed, intense in thought, 

Far, far away the vengeance sought 

And far away all fear, all shame 

Of action past, in thought, or name ; 

44 For years," he cried, " have swept away, 

44 Or foes, or vengeance from fair day ; 

" In death they mingle, or in sweet 

44 Forgetfulness ; nor vengeance greet." 

An aged matron Fraca eyed, 
As, 'midst the plain he thoughtful pried, 
Straight knew— silent, she, slowly sped— 
Her hatchet lifted— cleft his head— 



tfORAL POEMS. SI 

Glad viewed the blood, as swift it flowed. 

Exulting vengeance, satiate glowed ; 

The mother, thus of warrior, slain, 

Tho' late avenged him on the plain. 

Ye youths of spirit fondly hailed 

With whom, save force no power availed. 

Nor rule, nor argument, nor law, 

From boyish years till manhood saw ; 

And now, mature huge riot run, 

Pre-eminent, as mid-day sun, 

Exulting, as each social tie 

Is trampled low, or forced to fly — 

Control away — deceased shame 

And virtue of each form and name ; 

Who wisdom mock and, sheer deride 

All discipline — the social tide ; 

Society topsyturvy turn 

And fierce for misrule ever burn, 

Think ye, O think, for once I pray 

How swift ye speed to savage day. 
n2 



■■■■ 



82 FABLES ASD 



Once down the pale discipline rears 

Lo, instant savage mood appears. 

Excess of liberty — yower — will, 

Judge — jury — mute, 'Us his to kill; 

Jf his, it peers another's right : 

Thus all resolves in one thing — might 

Would ye, O youths securely, live 

To discipline bow — security give. 

Peace, peace exchange for riot high, 

Lest savage sway and reason die. 

In death of reason, view your own ; 

The sower reaps as he has sown ; 

Nor thorns, dream ye figs luscious bear, 

Stop, stop, they wound, they mangle—tear! 



MORAL POEMS. 83 



THE DEAD JAY. 

My Jay is shot ! Alas, my Jay. 1 
View it a lifeless shape, aghast ! 
Lo, o'er its breast death winged his way 
And thro' its brain he instant dashed. 
Its bright right eye in darkness gone ; 
Its feathered crest one frightful gore; 
Closed o'er its breast the wings in one, 
Beauteous, with hues of blue and hoar ; 
Curled up those claws and cast behind 
Those legs erst nimble on the spray, 
And fast that bill which, wroth, or kind 
When opened, closed in one note — Jay ! 
Erst curious modulations peer, 
Or soft, or harsh defined the tone ; 
Jay sounded love, or anger — fear, 
As muscles pressed, or sighed a moan. 
B 3 



84 FABLES AND 



Wise architect ; when reared thy frame, 

The masticating teeth nor thine, 

A craw He formed, unerring aim 

Nutritive juices to refine ; 

Near seat of action placed, machine 

Of first concoction to thy food ; 

Thy head enjoying pure serene, 

Or feet, or wings promoting good. 

From bill to tail, now stiffened corse 

T view my beauteous checkquered Jay ; 

Once gentle curve, fair beauty's course, 

Now lank and straight it fades away. 

Thus shall I fade ! yet, opportune, 

O save my frame, Jehovah good, 

From death 'midst horrid, wrathful fume 

And let me gently pass the flood. 

Alas, my Jay, 'midst upland wood, 

Where hoarse the impetuous torrent roared 

And swift the wind past, there he stood, 

While high the mountain falcon soared. 



MORAL POEMS. 85 



Shortened the column, there of air, 
O'er mountains pushed from western plain. 
More swift the hurling* tempests glare 
And comprest vapours rush in rain. 
As blithesome Jay he sounded clear, 
Unfeared all evil and unknown, 
Instant the missile pellets rear 
And instant, dead he rushes down! 
Life, principle of action fair, 
Gone, Who the ruin builds anew ? 
Its bill I oped — infused the air 
And spread its wings, as erst they flew ; 
Nor Jay heard I, nor flutter saw ; 
Instant, like splinter from a rock, 
Plump on the grass-plot dashed its maw ; 
Dumb, as the rude, unshapen block ! 
Nor could I, by all effort cause 
One act of life — one motion — voice; 
Tho' every muscle seemed to pause, 
As when in dubious act of choice. 



L_ 



86 FABLES AND 



Save one bright eye and brain destroyed, 
Each limb — each muscle perfect seemed— 
The whole machine, as when employed, 
Might for meet action yet be deemed. 
Ah, life once fled, no effort serves 
To work the muscular machine ! 
Nor from laws fixed creation swerves, 
Nor art supplies the living stream ! 
Then, thou art dead and this is death — 
Departed will and action meet ! 
Time was, ere parent hailed thy birth 
Nonentities, nor actions greet. 
Thus, up from nothing, for a day 
Thou hopped and flew and fed and slept- 
To every passion modelled Jay, 
And instant was from being swept ! 
Frail tenure thine, O hapless bird, 
By which thou held the dazzling plume ; 
Yet, age to age, thy fragile herd, 
Jays rear to Jays, while suns illume. 



MORAL POEMS. 87 



More steadfast rolls not yonder sun, 

Stupendous centre placed to all 

Of planet named, since time begun, 

Than rolls, O Jay, thy germ, so small! 

Or vast, or seemly, or minute 

Creation speeds unerring way ; 

Diverted, nor from each pursuit, 

Nor yielding to a foreign sway. 

New, yea, as when Omniiic word 

Said, ;i Let each be, 1 ' and, lo. each was ! 

Each creature rises — beast, or bird, 

And each maintains its certain class. 

I act, I think, the morning speeds ; 

'Midst action — thought, too speeds the day; 

Or naught, or pure the thoughts — the deeds, 

Borne by time's stream, I pass away. 

Yet modulations purge not man 

From high creation's certain class; 

Or infant — hoary — clay cold wan, 

Man cannot from his manhood pass. 



— 



88 FABLES AND 



Superior to, or beast, or bird, 
Eternal spirit hails his frame ; 
When past away the grosser herd, 
More ardent peers the immortal flame. 
Yet man, tho' head amidst his sphere 
A head beholds — above — around. 
Nor can his art a bird uprear, 
Much less his strength a sphere, profound. 
Or birds, or spheres are reared — preserved- 
All animate — all lifeless clod : 
If from its class not one has swerved, 
There lives a wise — a strong — 'tis GOD I 
Infinite worth ! who Him adores, 
In reason's scale exalts his mind ; 
Upwards he tends ; yet, yet explores — 
Free ranges, wide and unconfined. 
Nor boast, ye narrow, various crew, 
Who, low yourselves, or demons serve ; 
Fetters for mind you, motley hew 
And far from reason's purpose swerve. 



MORAL POEMS. 89 



'Tis theirs who launch in being vast — 
Immense, immutable, serene, 
Freedom to prove of noblest cast — 
Ineffable, eternal scene! 
Anxious throbs the earth bound spirit \ 
Tremulous, cries, O GOD, to Thee ; 
44 Life in Thee make me inherit ; 
" O let me now Thy glory see. 
44 To matter, lo, bound down, confined, 
41 Long, by the terrene held in chains, 
44 Raise, O raise my fluttering mind — 
44 My fetters break and wash my stains. 
44 Where can I fly? The earth to me 
44 A prison rises — goads, a thorn ; 
44 Nor rest admits — nor leaves to flee, 
44 Save, J AH, to Thy imperial throne. 
44 Nor wings have I, that, like the dove, 
44 A place prepared I might ascend ; 
44 Nor, like the spirits can I move — 
ri Instant desire — attain the end. 



90 FABLES AND 



44 What, if my soul to regions soars 

44 Which, pure sublimes, ideal I meet? 

44 Lo, matter, dull the spirit pores — 

44 I fall — I lie at mercy's feet! 

" Thou strong, Thou wise, Thou great, Thou 

good, 
44 Sublime, Omnipotent I AM! 
44 Fountain, from whose eternal flood 
44 All power, all glories, pure eman, 
44 Behold, compassionate, enlarge ! 
44 Free, lo, Thy worth shall meet my praise. 
14 Thy Spirit give — I hail the charge 
44 And grateful flow subsequent days. 
44 Ye sacred Three, who record sure 
" In heaven bear — in this terrene- 
44 Jehovah, Jesus, Spirit — pure — 
44 Eternal One — Thou high serene 
" All hail ! All praise, my grateful lay, 
44 Its utmost powers to Thee ascend, 
44 Thro' clouds, thro 1 darkness wings its way ; 
44 Time knows its source, nor knows its end. 



MORAL POEMS. 



91 



" As Thee, eternal flows the theme, 
" Alert and ardent — love to love. 
" Eternal, Thou the living stream, 
M Or glory — power gives to prove. 



92 FABLES AND 



MAN AND THE ANIMALS. 

Wisdom aloft, in solemn voice 
To reason calls — invites its choice 
Of good, in rich abundance hers; 
Free gift to each who lore prefers. 
Sweet is the voice, the accents pure 
And every word, as sunbeams sure; 
All mortal hear— she speaks reward. 
Yet few, of myriad man regard. 
Smooth is the voice to some — too soft ; 
To others harsh — severe — aloft. 
Too pithy — set in proverbs dark ; 
Too plain and void of vital spark ; 
Too dull ; too smart — severe on crime ; 
Too mellow far, or too sublime 
Pronounced, as state or tempers suit, 
Or as cross reason would refute : 



MORAL POEMS. 93 



For reason, tho 1 supreme on earth 
Is marred, alas — perverse from birth ; 
Nor judge, unless the voice inspires 
Of wisdom's pure refining fires — 
Empyrean far, for mortal eye, 
Without celestial aid too high. 

Forth from his house Orlando sped ; 
His path thro' gardens — farmyard led, 
O'er lands he owned and held in farm ; 
Well stocked and cultured — snug and warm, 
A hog he viewed, Ho, Ralph! he cried, 
4 For bacon let this hog be styed ; 
i Well fed — from daily ramble stayed, 
4 Till fat, for slaughter.' Ralph obeyed. 
4 And, hark thee Ralph, my favourite mare, 
4 This season she a foal shall bear, 

* From labour free, at large must roam, 
4 Amidst my farm ; nor toil from home : 

* And Swiftsure, old, too feeble far, 



1 Or for rough labour, or for war 

I 2 



94 FABLES AND 



8 Must to the dogs.' To slaughter's shed, 
Obedient, Ralph, in halter led 
Alas, old horse, 'tis thine to die 
No question asked — thy master's eye, 
Nor longer views thee with delight ; 
Tho' toils — tho' dangers borne requite 
Might seem to claim and favour long 
Was thine, while sure and swift and strong. 
Profit and pleasure beam alone ; 
These gone, to man the creature's gone ; 
The sentence issues — none implore- 
Up lifts the axe — straight he's no more ! 

To poultry turns his well fed face. 
How amply these ray farmyard grace, 
In ecstacy, Orlando cries, 
4 What roast, what boiled before my eyes! 
4 True foxes prowl and cunning steal — 
4 From me purloining meal to meal, 
4 But every meal is still purloined; 
4 Nor property to thrift is joined, 



MORAL POEMS. 95 



* In what wide field, or snug warm yard 
' Has fox such store of food prepared 1 

* Nor lion, tho' of beasts tbe king, 
4 Nor tiger, wolf, nor eagle's wing, 
4 Nor fox, nor all the brutal horde 

8 But adventitious daily board: 

* The price is toil, or cunning spring, 

* Or sheer long chase, or sudden wing: 
a Prowling, or now excessive fed, 

4 Or now, thro' hunger faint — nigh dead r 
4 While I, superior, lordly sway — 
4 Hoard up — at leisure fatlings slay; 
4 Or food providing, or, from harm 
4 Shelter, 'midst wool, or feathers warm. 
4 Man lord of beasts, as lord of earth 
4 1 view and hail his stately birth! 
1 Or lambs, or sheep, or oxen large, 
4 Or poultry — swine I give in charge ; 

* For me due servants feed and slay, 
4 As peers the sun, or flies the day. 

i 3 



96 FABLES AND 



Rotation names, of erst the hour, 
When darkness sways in silent power, 
Or names to feed — the varied food, 
I hoard and slaughter, as seems good — 
For breakfast these on this to dine 
And that, when even's suns decline. 
I give command — a life is spared ; 
I order — dead, its flesh is shared. 
My flocks and herds, at my command 
Increase, or, slaughtered feed the land ; 
Nor can the prowling tribes destroy, 
Save by mere stealth, nor mine annoy. 
Great, great is man, the lord of earth ; 
I view and hail his stately birth ! 
At my command, the furrows bear, 
Or wheat, or oats, or barley — sheer 
As I order — cast the small seed, 
Or beverage rears, or bread to feed. 
Wheat, food for man ; oats, meet for beast ; 
Malt, beverage, for man's sumptuous feast. 



MORAL POEMS. 97 



4 Spread out, the viands sweet invite 

4 And bumpers deal around delight : 

* Quaffed are wine bowls and even's song 

4 Exalts the mortal, gods among — 

4 Superior rears him, the sublime 

4 In prose attained — in lofty rhyme 

4 Rolls in his intellectual — bears 

4 To genii realms — with these he peers. 

4 Lo, for the moment, scorned the earth 

4 He feels he owes to gods his birth ; 

4 And but descends, when sleeps surcease 

4 Sublime of thought, to rest in peace. 

4 Awake, he finds anew the cheer 

4 Of varied beverage, mind to rear. 

4 If fallen, from excess of height, 

4 Thus soars he to another flight. 

4 As stoops the eagle — 'mid career — 

4 Ethereal borne, when shades appear; 

4 A moment cowers, then soars to wing, 

J Where sunbeams play and ethers sing; 



98 FABLES AND 



4 Sublime, above this rolling sphere, 

4 Looks down and scorns the highest here.' 

Forward he marches, o'er a mead, 
There numerous sheep in safety feed, 
And lowing oxen, all his own, 
Choice culled and bred — of fame his crown 
And wealth. These, with exulting eye 
He views — uprears the vaunting cry. 
4 Ralph, hast thou viewed, like me, admired 
4 This flock, this herd? Long 1 desired, 
4 Lo, now I view and triumph rears — 
* My hopes beyond and spite of fears ! 
4 To market oxen twenty drive, 
6 Of sheep threescore ; as thou'rt alive, 
4 All eyes will there on these be stayed — 
4 My fame wide spread and profit made.' 
Thus, lord of animation he 
Promulges death and life's decree : 
His own — accountable to none 
The varied, huge domestic throng. 



MORAL POEMS. 99 



Yet, on he paces, clovers brown 
The rotund summits richly crown 
And horses, his of stately mould, 
At large feed there ; young- they and bold 
Of spirit high : well fed and wrought 
Most gentle, ere to market brought : 
There, in condition meet for toil 
Fame would and profit greet his soil, 
4 Yes, man is rich,' to Ralph he cried, 
4 And, 'midst my fellows, merit tried 
4 Riches to me deals, as my due 
4 The huge, tame animated crew ; 
4 Nor, mere in number but of worth, 
4 By none excelled the country forth. 1 
Lo, near he drew a colt well bred 
And to rank fatness clover fed; 
His front erect, or mane, or tail 
Grand flowing to the waving gale; 
Pure curve his ample neck became; 
Open his nostrils — eyes a flame. 



LofC. 



100 FABLES AND 



As forth inviting hand was waved, 

Snorting", the coit all welcome braved; 

Advanced, reared, wheeled, true distance won, 

His heels upthrew — struck — crashed the bone. 

Orlando fell, 4 Ho Ralph,' his cry, 

4 Help! help! I sink, I faint, I die!' 

A death-like film, his eyeballs knew 

And, tremulous hence all motion flew! 

Six times yon moon had filled her horn, 

Nor joy, as joy was wont, earthbom 

Orlando hailed ; but woe, tenfold 

His gross frame racked and pains untold. 

Crutches the fractures compound aid ; 

Sole round the room each tour is made. 

Frantic, he cries, 4 1 deemed for man, 

4 His use and pleasure earthly span ; 

' But, every effort tried I find, 

* For pain no specific in mind, 

i Nor in corporeal : every means, 

* Which joy creates mine, woe sole reigns, 



MORAL POEMS. / 101 



4 Nor acres — grain, nor cattle fine 
4 Can fractures heal — alloy repine. 

* Why was I thus assailed ; and why 

* Am I to sicken, linger, die ? 

4 'Midst life's bland .prime, in thriving state, 
4 Arising to the fame of great, 

* Bereft, by stroke ingrate of all, 

* Which great and good I wisely call, 
4 I cannot — will not bow — 'tis mine, 

4 Yet rich to live — to thrive and shine V 
Grasping his crutch in potent mood, 
He stood, resolved to hold his good. 

Truth, potent, more than warrior bold, 
Than time, than sunbeams — creatures old ; 
More lovely than creation's host 
And grander than all mortal's boast ; 
Conviction —Sent, to earthborn man. 
Mind to illume — reform its plan, 
At issue, thus the high decree 
Jehovah spake, 44 Lo, every knee, 



02 fables and 



44 To Thee shall how, on earth — in heaven, 

" Messiah — Prophet, Priest, King given !" 

As lightning from the murkey cloud, 

Flashed in his soul — proclaimed aloud. 

4 Ere now, thy boasted mandate ran, 

4 Or death, or life to creature span. 

4 Or winged, or prone, of varied name 

4 Thy table bore and thine was fame. 

4 Thy furrows reared, or grain for food — 

4 For beverage, hailed thy potent good. 

4 At will thou slew and at command 

4 Thy flocks increased — grain crowned thy land, 

4 All fondly deemed, entire thy own: 

4 The name of steward sheer unknown. 

4 If right was thine to kill and slay, 

4 Nor power was found, but to obey, 

4 Who those created, yea and thee 

4 Of right proclaims, " Cease thou to be !" 

1 Or thine was power, and boasted will 

4 To feast on various — various kill, 



MORAL POEMS. 103 



4 'Tis His, Supreme, without control 
1 Thy frame to slay — demand thy soul. 
4 Steward , alone of all this good ; 
4 Nor lord, as deemed in boasting mood. 
4 To Him account thy soul must give, 
4 When ceases thy frail frame to live. 
4 Cease, then from madness ; bow thy head ; 
4 Ere yet His awful thunder sped 
4 Thy folly scorches, tenfold more ; 
4 Nor ceases at thy loud implore.' 
He heard — the intellectual ear 
Distinguished Truth — alarm and fear, 
Straight seized. Trembling, appalled he stood 
Convicted. Tears, an ample flood 
Flowed from corporeal eye amain, 
Of penitence — his power was slain. 
Up reared the prayer from lips new taught, 
And erst with curses only fraught ; 
It sped — the angel peace straight beamed 
And mercy, lovely, instant streamed ; 



104 FABLES AND 



Joy filled his heart, unknown before 
And light he held his earthly store* 

'Tvvas his, anon to tread the green 
And frequent to review each scene. 
Or horses, sheep, or oxen store, 
Or hogs and poultry at barn-door, 
Again, at his command were fed ; 
Or, as he ordered instant bled. 
Health brought and plenty thoughts again 
Which fled when rose Truth, fear and pain* 
Great was his name and great his store ; 
And " steward," sounded there no more, 
Excess of riot, scorn and loud 
Blasphemous speech and mandate proud 
Issued — sole lord. Or to obey 
Unthought, unnamed, or coming day, 
When strict account Truth would demand 
Of cattle and the fruits of land. 

One sunbeamed morn, where oxen fed 
And milch-cows lowed his circuit sped. 



MORAL POEMS. 



10.' 



For market oxen choice they cull, 

At his command and stately bull. 

Steady along the destined way, 

Each sped — unconscious slaughter's day ! 

Alone, the bull rebellious proved, 

Nor would he quit the field he loved. 

Orlando raged, the bull, in scorn 

To butting mood inclined his horn : 

Rage stamped to rage and furious blows, 

Orlando's cudgel dealt his brows. 

Oft he assayed, the bull, at length 

Bored on his front — by sheer main strength. 

Up tossed him, 'midst the yielding air; 

Gashed with fell wounds and ruthless tear. 

He falls ; he groans ; in livid gore, 

A moment welters — is no more ! 

Who rules the creatures with a lordly sway, 

Scorner himself — unlessoned to obey, 

May meet in brute a kindred act and mind ; 

Hot can he murmur. Lo, he's paid in kind. 
k2 



106 FABLES AND 



Creation done, submission to his will 
In creatures planted, power gave man to kill ; 
Sure stands the word, Elohim's mandate gave; 
As sure man's judgment stands beyond the grave. 



MORAL POEMS. 107 



THE MOUNTAIN-DOVES. 

Green the ivy wreathed and budded, 
Round the branches, fret-like studded, 
Stag horns reared aloft, long splintered 
From foliaged bows, hoary wintered, 
Thro' rush of ages met the storm, 
And oak of highly ancient form. 
Sheer amidst securest winding, 
Ivy wreathed, how hard the finding, 
Nestled close and warm as down-bed, 
Two Wood-Doves, from mounts unsown fed. 
Creation peers o'er rocks, o'er ground, 
O'er every object wide around. 
Nor does the hand of man uprear 
In aught, from highest annalled year. 
Dove like, they bill and lovely coo 
And, tender, now they ardent woo; 
k3 



J 



108 FABLES AND 



Softly, gently is each snow breast 
Reared, protruded, frequent slow prest. 
Love is theirs, that golden treasure, 
Love, so ardent hard to measure. 
Yes, faithful is the bill, the heart, 
And seldom is it theirs to part. 
See, see, aloft they joyous hie ; 
Lo, wing to wing they lovely fly : 
Each turn how quick, how ardent made. 
Yet wing to wing their flight is stayed. 
Up the woodland dale they wandered ; 
How unlike the flock that's squandered, 
Or the spouse and lord who, walking, 
Dangle wide, or, distant stalking, 
Seem, to strangers, strangers merely ; 
Oblique each in act so querely. 
Yes, Dove to Dove they flew, they fed, 
And side by side was theirs to bed. 
Now coo'd, now flew, now fed, now slept, 
Contented nestled, never wept! 



1M 



MORAL POEMS. 109 



For joy was theirs and love, nor guest, 
Lived habitant in either breast. 

Lo, on a time, 'midst summer's scene, 
When verdures wore their choicest green, 
Hoarse sung the tempest o'er the steep, 
Huge torrents roared and wide and deep, 
Swept in their course the rifted rocks, 
Crashed the tall trees, 'midst hideous shocks, 
Rolling beneath, deep in the dell, 
Toll'd scared creation's passing-bell. 
Distant to feed, the mountain form, 
'Twas theirs to meet the howling storm. 
Wet were their wings, their shady plumes, 
And wild disorder each assumes ; 
Night, sable night, 'midst gloom uprears, 
Around are wars, within are fears ; 
Nor can the pair on ardent wing, 
Tho' close they still incessant cling, 
The ivyed oak, their home, regain ; 
Sore was their toil ; ah, toil was vain ! 



110 FABLES AND 



Midnight around, in silent calm, 
Serene diffuses healing balm ; 
Bland rears, anon, from ocean's face 
The orient orb sublime ; What grace ! 
Transcendent is the morning scene, 
From night of tempests, one serene. 
Where beauteous spreads the wide champaign 
And mildest graces, lovely reign, 
Soft flow the currents thro' the meads, 
Verdure in forms and hues exceeds, 
'Twas theirs, from copse of garden form, 
To rise — their shelter 'midst the storm. 
Tall spires, surmounted high with gold, 
And fanes of splendid forms unfold ; 
The city, rank with grandeur, shone, 
First time to them ; nor shone alone, 
Around was Eden's garden spread, 
Compared with oak of ivy head ; 
Which, mountain seated, sterile round, 
Instead of beauteous, dimned the ground. 



Ill 



Bland, lo, they wandered, coo'd and fed 

Their chafed plumes smoothed and playful sped 

O'er gardened trees and sipped the stream 

From stormrent, joy rose — joy supreme. 

The day in pleasures new and bland 

Sped o'er and even was at hand, 

They coo'd, they billed and, 'midst a tree, 

Sat recreated bland and free ; 

Home joys and scenes of mountain form 

Lost in new charms, as lost the storm, 

Nor rose transcendent with the pair, 

Determined milder joys to share. 

No, these, amidst serene they spurn, 

Nor willed, tho' easy, their return. 

Man, fraught with intellect, with lust 
Of all things gaining, How unjust! 
Man built the city, raised its spires, 
Its gardens planted, fans their fires; 
Or aboriginal plant uprears, 
Or grand exotic tender cheers, 



112 FABLES AXD 



Or rare, or fine, or lovely forms 

He nurtures from the angry storms ; 

Terrestrial paradise to rear 

With his primeval, lost, to peer. 

Man claimed the soil, the trees, the air, 

He saw, he lusted, claimed the pair; 

And lest, when dayspring cheered the sky, 

'Midst other than his air they fly, 

Midnight a net of curious thread 

The tree environs, chose their bed. 

Morn rose serene, around were joys* 
Connubial bill and coo employs 
The lovely pair, aloof from dread ; 
While grand the lucid orb its head 
Reared forth and day, at his command, 
Bland swayed o'er ethers, seas and land. 
Instant their lovely wings are spread 
And instant sheer aloft they sped ; 
Fragrance, or exercise, or food, 
Or recreation, as seems good, 



MORAL POEMS. 113 



Invites as usual to the field, 

As usual, to the voice they yield. 

Sudden they flutter, stagger, fall, 

Entangled, struggle, quit the thrall. 

Again assay, rise, fall again, 

Or flutter, struggle, moan in pain ; 

Coo not but tremble, first time weep, 

Affrighted, crouch, on all sides peep 

Thro' circumambient, open walls, 

While effort to lost effort palls. 

Lo, near a creature careful draws 
Upright in stature, rears his paws ; 
Food seems in these, while mildest mood 
Beams from his eyes, presage of good. 
Tis man: the lord of all things round, 
Of air, of water, trees and ground. 
Fear, yet more awful, yet more fierce, 
Both seizes; unknow throbbing fierce; 
They flutter, struggle, pant and fall, 
Beneath his hand, to deeper thrall. 



114 



FABLES AND 



A cage of wicker fabric, mean, 

Receives, confines them, low, unclean ; 

Food only theirs, nor theirs the skies, 

The meads, the mountains, freedom's prize. 

How fallen, alas, to durance vile 

Condemned, from native freedom's smile ! 

Yet theirs was still to bill, to coo, 

Tender the snow breast prest, to woo ; 

One yet in bill, in bosom, heart, 

Nor theirs a moment yet to part. 

Sweet consolations rife uprear 

Each cries, " My only love is near ;" 

" My Dove is all, is all to me ;" 

" And sweet is every scene with thee!'' 

Lo, from a mansion grand, at hand, 
Now issues forth a splendid band : 
All hues, all grandeurs theirs to wear 
And lovely are the forms they bear. 
Or large in stature, or minute, 
Loquacious, or, as nestlings, mute. 



MORAL POEMS. 1J5 



The pair their whole attention claimed 

And, " Dovy, Dovy," oft they named. 

As near they closed and pierced the cage. 

The pair to rouse, what fear, what rage, 

In breasts erst free, alternate burned ; 

Inthralled, insulted, idly spurned! 
In stature first and first in power, 

One leads the group to shady bower ; 

Leaving, in cogitations deep, 

The pair alone, their thrall to weep. 

Lo, soon returned, of stature small, 
One from the bower, seat of all. 

Softly she, " Dovy, Dovy," calls 
And gently straight the Dove inthralls. 
He struggles, flutters, pants for breath, 
In agonies of instant death. 
44 Dovy," she cries, O, Dovy peace :" 
" From flutter cease; O, Dovy cease!" 
Straight casts him to the yielding air: 
Upward he springs in triumph rum. 
L 



U6 FABLES AND 



A string around his foot at length, 
Jerked cruel with her utmost strength, 
Plump down he falls; the wall, the cage 
His breast, his head, his wings engage : 
Stunned, lo, he lies; nor upward flies; 
Tho' " Dory, Dovy fly!" she cries. 
Dead she accounts him ; guilt to cloak, 
" Puss, Puss!" calls she. One furious stroke 
Puss deals ; pain rears ; he ardent cries, 
Flutters, torn, struggles; instant dies. 
Sore mourned his mate the awful deed ; 
Overwhelmed in grief, nor would she feed. 
She sickened, languished, soon in death, 
Resigned, 'midst throes forlorn, her breath. 
O, had they sought the ivyed oak, 
Nor o'er them had this evil broke ! 
Storm-rent, from cottaged home to stray, 
Alas, was theirs in evil day; 
Nor to return, when ceased the storm. 
Was danger met in direst form. 



MORAL POEMS. J 17 



The city's haunts, with mankind fraught, 
With manners cottaged lore ne'er taught. 
O, shun, ye blooming upland maids! 
Ye swains ! Lo, danger these pervades. 
Be short your stay : return, be blest ; 
Simplicity is one with rest. 



THE END. 



PRINTED AT R. SUGDEN'S OFFICE, 
Old Market-Place Halifax. 



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INTENDED TO BE PUBLISHED, 






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